ESPE Abstracts

GnRH–secreting neurons are unusual neuroendocrine cells, as they originate in the nasal placode outside the central nervous system during embryonic development, and migrate to the hypothalamus along the vomeronasal and terminal nerves. Postnatally these cells become integral members of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and they regulate puberty onset and reproduction through the release of GnRH into the pituitary portal blood vessels for delivery to the anterior pituitary.

Disruption of GnRH neuronal migration and/or defective GnRH synthesis and secretion leads to congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadisms, a rare endocrine disorder characterized by absent or incomplete puberty resulting in infertility.

Herein, we detailed for the first time the 3-dimensional spatio-temporal distribution and organization of GnRH neurons in rodents from embryonic development to adulthood and studied in detail the interactions of GnRH neurons with multiple cell populations participating to the control of reproductive functions in mammals.